Hosiery inspecting apparatus



y 5, 1964 G. B. NORMAN ETAL 3,

HOSIERY INSPECTING APPARATUS Filed March 23, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 COMPRESSOR L] 4%,

4%, INVENTORS Geoaet- B. NORMAN and EMMETT E. GRAHAM J Bywznfidwwwm ATTORNEY 5 y 5, 1964 e. B. NORMAN ETAL 3,131,839

HOSIERY INSPECTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1961 A12 COMPRESSOR United States Patent 3,131,839 HQSIERY INSPECTING APPARATUS George B. Norman and Emmett E. Graham, Grifiin, Ga., assignors to Spalding Knitting Miiis, Grime, Ga, a corporation of Georgia Filed Mar. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 27,924 9 Ciaims. (Cl. 223-43) This invention relates to hosiery inspecting apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for inspecting toeseamed hosiery such as mens and childrens socks and for concurrently flattening the toe seams Thereof.

As is known, the seam in the toe portion of mens and childrens socks must be substantially flat if the goods are to possess an attractive appearance acceptable to purchasers. The seams, however, do not inherently lie flat, but rather as sewn have a bunched or puckered appearance. Subsequent dying of the socks tends to shrink the seams and further aggravate their bunched or puckered condition. This highly undesirable condition must be obviated at some point in the manufacture of the socks if the goods are to be acceptable. The toe seams can be flattened after the seaming operation by stretching them, uniformly and evenly, transversely of their lengths. If stretched to a suiiicient extent, the seams will remain flattened after being allowed to relax, and will not return to any appreciable extent to their prior bunched or puckered condition.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide improved inspecting apparatus embodying mechanism for flattening, as discussed above, the toe seams of socks, whereby the seam flattening process may be speedily and economically performed as an ancillary step to the inspecting operation.

A related and more specific object is the provision of apparatus of the type described that may be economically constructed of standard component parts, but which is highly eflicient in operation and will flatten toe seams uniformly and evenly.

Another related object is the provision of apparatus of the type described that permits flattening of the toe seams of socks without necessitating any appreciable additional labor on the part of the inspecting operator, and without causing any appreciable reduction in the rate of sock inspection.

Still other objects and advantages will be in part evident and in part pointed out hereinafter in the following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of hosiery inspecting apparatus according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub stantially along line 33 of FIGURE 1, the plunger member within the tubular inspection form being shown in extended condition;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the tubular inspection form and plunger member shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 5, the plunger member within the tubular inspection form being shown in extended condition;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a sock held upon the tubular inspection form of FIGURE 1 with the plunger member in a retracted position; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 7 but with the plunger member in an extended position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 in conjunc tion with pneumatic sock inspecting and everting apparatus including a tubular inspection form 10 mounted substantially horizontally for rotation about its longitudinal axis by means of bearings 12. Bearings 12 are secured to one of the side walls 14 of a sock collection chamber or cabinet 16 and, as best shown in FIGURE 2, the inner end 18 of form 10 is disposed within cabinet 16. A conduit 26 also communicating, as shown, with the interior of cabinet 16 is connected to any suitable pneumatic suction source (not shown) capable of maintaining a negative pressure within cabinet 16 and form 19 during the operation of the apparatus. Aflixed to and encircling the outer surface of form 19 adjacent its free outer or right-most end 22 is a smooth annular collar 23. Collar 23 defines gripping means for a purpose to be hereinafter discussed, and does not affect the inspecting or everting functions of the apparatus.

The procedure for inspecting and everting socks by use of the apparatus thus far described is well known, and will be but briefly described. The operator of the apparatus dons each sock, in wrong-side-out'condition, upon form 16 by pulling the welt thereof over the free outer end 22 of the form and toward inner end 18 thereof until the entire sock is received by the form with the toe portion thereof engaging free end 22. The sock is then inspected, the operator manually rotating form 10 about its longitudinal axis as desired so as to view all portions of the sock. If the sock is of acceptable quality, it is removed from form 10 and simultaneously everted to a right-side-out condition by sliding the welt portion thereof toward free end 22 of the form and allowing the toe portion to be drawn by suction through free end 22 and the interior of the form. The negative pressure within cabinet 16 draws the inspected and turned sock through form 10 and out of the inner end 18 thereof. A screen or other suitable guard 24 prevents the socks from being drawn through conduit 29, so that the socks passing from form 1! fall upon the floor of cabinet 16. The inspected and everted socks deposited upon the floor of cabinet 16 are periodically removed therefrom through a door 26 (see FIGURE 1) provided in the cabinet.

The toe seam stretching and flattening mechanism provided in conjunction with the foregoing apparatus includes a plunger member in the form of a tubular sleeve 28 telescopically mounted within form 10 and guidably supported by the form for sliding longitudinal movement relative thereto between extended (see FIGURE 3) and retracted (see FIGURES 1 and 2) positions. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the inner end 30 of sleeve 28 extends inwardly, or to the left of, the inner end 18 of form 10. A pair of spaced collars 32, 33 fixed to inner end 30 of sleeve 28 loosely straddle a yoke 34 secured to an actuating rod 36 that extends generally horizontally within cabinet 16. Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that actuating rod 36 is connected to the piston 38 of an air cylinder 46 mounted substantially horizontally in the side wall 42 of cabinet 16 opposing side wall 14 thereof. A conduit 44, in which is interposed a normally closed valve 46 actuatable by means of a foot treadle 48, extends between air cylinder 40 and a suitable source of compressed air, such as the air compressor diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 3. It will be apparent that upon opening valve 45 by means of foot treadle 48, compressed air supplied to air cylinder 40 will rapidly move piston 38 from its position shown in FIGURE 2 in the direction of side wall 14 of cabinet 16, or to the right. Actuating rod 36 and yoke 34 will, of course, be moved by piston 38 in the same direction to an equal extent. Similarly, under e impetus of yoke 34 against collar 33, sleeve 28 will be moved longitudinally of form 10 from its retracted FIGURE 2 position to its extended position shown in FIGURE .3. The'length of sleeve 28 is such that in its 7 retracted FIGURE 2 position the outer end 50 thereof is r the irnpetusof yoke 34 against collar 33, end 50 thereof is projected longitudinally outwardly beyond free end 22 of form 10. The extent of this projection will in most instances be some two or three inches, but can be adjusted as desired by varying the effective length of rod 36.

Upon closure of valve 46 by means of foot treadle 48, so as to interrupt the supply of air to cylinder 48, piston 38 and sleeve 28 will be returned to their retracted FIG- URE 2 position. This movement to a retracted position is accomplished by means of a coil spring 52 mounted within air cylinder 40 between end wall 53 thereof and a washer 54 secured to actuating rod 36. Movement of piston 38to the right, as heretofore described, compresses spring 52. Upon cessation of the air supply to cylinder 40, spring 52 is permitted to expand and thereby urges rod 36 back to its left-most position, thereby simultaneously retracting piston 38 and sleeve 28.

It will 'be'noted that sleeve 28 and its associated linkages in'no way impede the heretofore discussed inspecting and everting functions of the apparatus. The ability of form 10 to be rotated about its longitudinal axis with case is notimpaired by the presence of the sleeve therewithin since this member is free to rotate with the form, by virtue of the non-rigid connection between'collars 32, 33 and yoke 34; Nor is the passage of the inspected and everted socks through form 10 impeded by sleeve 28. The everted socks pass through form 10 as previously described, while additionally passing through sleeve 28 and falling from the inner end 30 thereof to the floor of cabinet 16 as shown in FIGURE 3. Guide fins 56,,as seen in FIG+ URES 2 and 4, are provided adjacent outer end 58 of sleeve 28 to prevent the top of the socks drawn through the sleeve and form'10 from becoming disposed within that it is unnecessary that any particular care be exercised in donning the socks upon form 10. Following the seam stretching and flattening phase of the operation, which need be but of momentary duration, the operator of the apparatus releases foot treadle'48 so as to allow sleeve28 to be returned to its retracted position, and permits the sock to be withdrawn from the form and everted by passing toe first through form 18 and sleeve It will be noted thatinthe above-described operation, stretching of each sock is confined, by virtue of the close placement of collar 23 to free end 22 of form 10, to the relatively small'part of the toe portion that contains toe seam 58. This is highly desirable, inasmuch as stretching of other portions or the entire body of the sock might well have detrimental elfects upon the fabric, and additionally would necessitate that end 50 of sleeve 28 project considerably further beyond free end 22 of form 10 in order to achieve the requisite flattening of seam 58.

. In FIGURES 5 and 6, to which reference is now made,

' URES 1 through 3.

the welt portionthereof. This feature, however, constitutes no part in the instant invention.

In using the apparatus, each sock is received by form 10 in customary fashion with its toe portion in engagement with free'end 22 of the form. When a sock is thus received by the form, the toe seam 58 thereof, which seam is; then in an undesirable puckered oribunched condition, is disposed adjacent free end 22 of form 10, and between end 22and collar 23 thereof, as shown in FIGURE'7.

The sock is then'inspected in the manner heretofore de scribed, form 10 being manually rotated as necessary to facilitate inspection. During the donning and inspecting phases of the operation, sleeve 28 is disposed in'its normal retracted position shown'in FIGURES 1 and 2, in which position outer end50 of sleeve 28 is located inwardly of free end 22 of the form. Subsequent to inspecting the sock upon form 10, but prior to its being everted and withdrawn from the form, the, operator of the apparatus grips the sock to the left of toe seam 58, as shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8, so as to maintain it in firm engagement with the form. The provision of collar 23 upon form 10 facilitates this gripping of the sock by enabling the operator to maintain a'purchase upon the smooth surface of the form, and is therefore highly desirable. While maintaining this engagement between the sockand the form,

foot treadle 48 is depressed so asto rapidly move sleeve 28 to its extended position and thereby project outer end 50 thereof beyond free end 22 of'form 10. Sleeve 28 is supported and'guided during this movement byform 10, as noted heretofore, by virtue of the telescopic'sliding engagement between these members. As shown in FIGURE 8,'the projection of end 50 of sleeve 28 beyond free end 22 of form 10 stretches toe seam 58 of the sock evenly and 'uniformly'along its entire length, which stretching leaves the seam in a desirable permanently flattened condition. It will be noted that uniform and even stretching and flattening of the seam is achieved, byvirtue of the circular cross'sectional shape of sleeve 28,.irrespective of the invention is shown in conjunction with hosiery inspecting apparatus lacking the pneumatic everting and withdrawing features of the apparatus shown in FIG- parts shown in the FIGURES l5 and 6 embodiment that are identical or similar to parts shown and described in the previous embodiment have been identified by the' means in the form of a collar 23' adjacentits free end F 22'. Also in keeping with the previous embodiment, there is an air cylinder 48' having a piston 38' to which is secured an actuating rod 362' Piston 38' can be moved to the right, as shown in FIGURE 6, by opening, valve 46 in a conduit 44 extending between cylinder 40 and e a suitable source of compressed air such as compressor 158'. The coupling 72 connecting conduit 44' and air cylinder 40' is, for a purpose to be subsequently discussed, of such a type as to permit relative rotative movement'between these-members; Upon closure of valve 46, piston 38' and rod 36 are retracted to the left bymeans ofa coil spring 52' mounted within, cylinder 40' between end wall 53 thereof and a washer 54' upon rod the inner end 18' of form 10' is received by and in alinement with an annular extension 62 of air cylinder 40', and is rigidly connected thereto as by means of a set screw 64. By virtue of this axial alinement of air cylinder 40' and form 10', actuating rod 36 of piston 54' may be connected directly, for instance by screw thread 65 as shown, to the toe seam stretching and flattening plunger of the mechanism.

' In the apparatus of FIGURES 5 and 6, the plunger comprises a solid cylindrical plug member 66 telescopically and co-axially mounted within form 10' and guidably supported by the formfor sliding longitudinal movement relative thereto between extended and retracted positions. In the extended position of plug member 66, shown in FIGURE 6, the right-hand or outer end 67 thereof projects beyond free end 22 of form 10', While in its retracted position (see FIGURES) the plug memw I 7 bar is disposed adjacent, but inwardly of, free end 22'.

the radial position of the sock with respect to form, so

Air cylinder 40' and form 10 are mounted for unitary by means of bearings 71, as shown in FIGURE 6. Bear mgs 71 are enclosed within a suitable housing 68 having a base 69 which may be secured, as by means of screws 70, to any suitable support in such a manner'that form 10' will extend substantially horizontally. With the apparatus thus positioned, socks are received by form 10 and inspected in the customary manner heretofore described,'the form being rotated as necessary to facilitate inspection. It will be apparent that rotative movement To avoid repetitious description,

of form is no way impaired by the presence of air cylinder 40', plug member 66, or their associated components, inasmuch as these members and their associated components are freely rotatable with form 10' by virtue of their unitary assembly and the heretofore mentioned rotative connection afforded by coupling 72.

Subsequent to the inspection of each sock upon form 10', the toe seam thereof is stretched and flattened by opening valve 46 and thereby projecting end 67 of plug member 66 longitudinally outwardly beyond free end 22' of the form. The operation of the apparatus in this regard is the same as that previously described with respect to the apparatus of FIGURES 1 through 3, and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. Upon return of plug member 66 to its retracted FIGURE 5 position, the sock upon form 10' is manually withdrawn therefrom and deposited in a suitable container.

It will thus be apparent that the instant invention provides apparatus achieving the various objects and advantages hereinbefore set forth. The apparatus of the invention is of economical and simple construction, being comprised of a relatively small number of standard component parts, and accomplishes efiicient flattening of the toe seam of socks during their inspection without materially reducing the rate of inspection and without causing operator fatigue.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for concurrently inspecting socks and flattening the toe seams thereof comprising a tubular inspection form having a uniform annular cross section and a free outer end, an annular collar mounted upon and completely encircling the exterior surface of said form adjacent said free end thereof, said form being adapted to receive a sock with the toe portion thereof in engagement with said free end and the toe seam thereof lying between said collar and said free end, a plunger member telescopically mounted Within said form, said plunger member being guidably supported by said form for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto between extended and retracted positions, said plunger member in said extended position projecting longitudinally beyond said free end of said form and in said retracted position being disposed inwardly of said free end, said plunger member normally being in said retracted position, and means connected to said plunger member for moving said plunger member to said extended position, movement of said plunger member to said extended position While a sock received by said form is held against said collar being effective to stretch and flatten the toe seam thereof.

2. Apparatus for concurrently inspecting socks and flattening the toe seams thereof comprising E3, tubular inspection form of uniform annular cross section, bearing means mounting said form for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said bearing means being disposed adjacent one end of said form and the other end of said form being free, an annular collar mounted upon and encircling the exterior surface of said form in proximate spaced relation to said free end thereof, said form being adapted to receive a sock with the toe portion thereof in engagement with said free end and the toe seam thereof lying between said collar and said free end, a cylindrical plunger member telescopically mounted within said form, said plunger member being rotatable with said form and being guidably supported thereby for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto between extended and retracted positions, said plunger member in said extended position projecting longitudinally beyond said free end of said form and in said retracted position being disposed inwardly of said free end of said form, and means connected to said plunger member for moving the same between said extended and retracted positions, movement of said plunger member to said extended position while a sock received by said form is held against said gripping means being effective to stretch and flatten the toe seam thereof.

3. Apparatus for concurrently inspecting socks and flattening the toe seams thereof comprising a tubular inspection form, bearing means mounting said form for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said bearing means being disposed exteriorly of said form adjacent one end thereof and the other end of said form being free, annular gripping means encircling the exterior surface of said form in proximate spaced relation to said free end thereof, said form being adapted to receive a sock with the toe portion thereof engaging said free end and the toe seam thereof lying between said annular gripping means and said free end, a cylindrical plunger member having an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of said form and being telescopically mounted within said form, said plunger member being rotatable with said form and being guidably supported thereby for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto between extended and retracted positions, said plunger member in said extended position projecting longitudinally beyond said free end of said form and in said retracted position being disposed inwardly of said free end of said form, first means operatively connected to said pllunger member resiliently maintaining the same in said retracted position thereof, and second means operatively connected to said plunger member for moving the same to said extended position thereof, movement of said plunger member to said extended position while a sock received by said form is held against said gripping means being elfective to stretch and flatten the toe seam thereof.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said second means for moving said plunger member to said extended position comprises an air cylinder mounted adjacent said one end of said form, a piston mounted for movement within said cylinder, an actuating rod secured to said piston and operatively connected to said plunger member, and means for supplying air to said cylinder when desired to actuate said piston and thereby move said plunger member.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said means for supplying air to said cylinder comprises a source of compressed air, a conduit communicating said compressed air source and said cylinder, valve means in said conduit, and foot treadle means for opening and closing said valve means.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said first means resiliently maintaining said plunger member in said retracted position includes spring means mounted within said air cylinder.

7. Apparatus for concurrently inspecting and everting socks and flattening the toe seams thereof comprising a tubular inspection form having a free outer end, gripping means upon the outer surface of said form in proximate spaced relation to said free end thereof, said form being adapted to receive a sock with the toe portion thereof engaging said free end and the toe seam thereof lying between said gripping means :and said free end, a tubular sleeve telescopically mounted within said form, said sleeve being guidably supported by said form for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto between extended and retracted positions, said sleeve in said extended position projecting longitudinally beyond said free end of said form and in said retracted position being disposed inwardly of said free end, means connected to said sleeve for moving the same between said extended and retracted positions, movement of said sleeve to said extended position while a sock received by said form is held against said gripping means being effective to stretch and flatten the toe seam thereof, and means for inducing a flow of air through said sleeve and said form in a direction away from said free end of said form for withdrawing a sock from said form and everting the same.

8. Apparatus for concurrently inspecting and everting socks and flattening the toe seams thereof comprising a tubular inspection form, bearing means mounting said form for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said bearing means being disposed exteriorly of said form adjacent one end thereof and the other end of said form being free,

gripping means encirclingthe exterior surface of said form in proximate spaced relation to said free end thereof, said form being adapted to receive a sock with the toe portion thereof engaging said free end and the toe'seam thereof lying between said gripping means and said free end, a tubular sleeve telescopically mounted within said form, said sleeve being rotatable with said form and being guidably supported by said'form for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto between extended and retracted positions, said sleeve in saidextended position project ng longitudinally beyond said free end of said form and in said retracted position being disposed inwardlytof said free end, means connected to said sleeve for moving the same between said extended and said retracted positions, movement of said sleeve member to said ex-, tended position While a sock received by said form is held against said gripping means being effective to stretch and flatten the toe seam'thereof, and means for, inducing a flow of airjthrough said sleeve and said form in the direction of from said free end to said one end of said form for withdrawing a sock from said form'and everting the same. V

9. Apparatus for concurrently inspecting and everting socks and flattening the toe seams thereof comprising a sock collection cabinet, bearing means. carried by said cabinet, a tubular inspection form having an inner end and an outer end,:said bearing means mounting said form adjacent said inner end thereof for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said inspection form extending outwardly 1 7 from said bearing means and said cabinet and said outer end thereof being free, annular gripping means encircling the exterior surface of said form in proximate spaced relation to said, outer end thereof, said form being adapted to receive a sock with the toe portion thereof in engagement with said free end and thetoe seam thereof r of said form and having its inner end projecting, longitu- 15 dinally inwardly beyond said inner end of said form and within said cabinet, means connected to said sleeve adjacent said inner end thereof for moving the same between said extended andretracted positions,movement of said sleeve to said extended position while a sock received by said form is held against said gripping means being effective to stretch and flatten the toe seam -thereof,'and means for inducing 'a flow of air through said sleeve andsaid I form in the direction of said inner end of said sleeve, said flow of 'air withdrawing a sock from said form in everted condition and conveying the same through said form and sleeve to the interior of said cabinet. 7 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,010,172 Ammon, Aug. 6, 1935 2,023,946 Ammon Dec. 10, 1935 v 2,363,380 Ammon Nov; 21, 1944 2,883,093 Autem Apr. 21, 1959 2,899,116 Long et a1. Aug. 11, 1959 2,931,544 De Spain Apr. 5,- 1960 3,026,007 Autem Q Mar. 20, 1962 3,044,669 Kienel July 17, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION George 8. Norman et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Colman line l, for grippisg reed collar Signs; 6216 seals-J this 8th day of September 1964 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. APPARATUS FOR CONCURRENTLY INSPECTING SOCKS AND FLATTENING THE TOE SEAMS THEREOF COMPRISING A TUBULAR INSPECTION FORM HAVING A UNIFORM ANNULAR CROSS SECTION AND A FREE OUTER END, AN ANNULAR COLLAR MOUNTED UPON AND COMPLETELY ENCIRCLING THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID FORM ADJACENT SAID FREE END THEREOF, SAID FORM BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A SOCK WITH THE TOE PORTION THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FREE END AND THE TOE SEAM THEREOF LYING BETWEEN SAID COLLAR AND SAID FREE END, A PLUNGER MEMBER TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FORM, SAID PLUNGER MEMBER BEING GUIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FORM FOR LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, SAID PLUNGER MEMBER IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY BEYOND 